Recently, Daimler, the parent company of Mercedes-Benz, published its 20 19 annual report. The data shows that Daimler Group sold 3.34 million vehicles last year, which is basically the same as the sales of 3.35 million vehicles in 2065438+2008. At the same time, the turnover also reached173.7 billion euros, a year-on-year increase of 3%. However, the profit before interest and tax was 4.3 billion euros, down 6 1.3% year-on-year, and the net profit dropped by 64.5% to 2.7 billion euros.
It is worth noting that Kang Song Lin, CEO of Daimler Group, said that the company is determined to achieve a leading position in technology and significantly improve its profitability. Therefore, measures must be taken to cut costs and increase cash flow. Therefore, in the report, Daimler said that by the end of 2022, materials and administrative expenses will be greatly reduced, while personnel costs will be cut by more than 654.38+0.4 billion euros. The scope of layoffs will affect at least 6,543,800,000 people around the world, including 654.38+00% management positions, accounting for at least 3.3% of the total number of employees in Mercedes-Benz.
In fact, Daimler had a large-scale layoff plan. In June, 2065438+09, Kang said in the third quarter earnings conference call: "In order to make the company successfully transform to electrification in the next few years, the company must strive to further control and reduce costs to increase sustained cash flow." Soon, in June of the same year 165438+ 10, a layoff plan will be announced, which will further offset the large investment in electrification and autonomous driving, thus improving the profit margin.
Electric transformation? Is it the main reason for car companies to "slim down"?
The global automobile market tends to decline, which makes Daimler, a German luxury car, no exception. In addition, electrification transformation has also become one of the important factors for Daimler to cut personnel costs on a large scale.
At present, the European Union has replaced the previous NEDC (European Cycle Test) emission standard with WLTP (Global Uniform Light Vehicle Emission Test Specification), so it is much more difficult for Daimler's vehicle products to meet the emission requirements. As can be seen from the data, Daimler's funds for regulatory procedures, liabilities and litigation risks in 20 19 increased from 2 18 euros to 4.9 billion euros.
It is not difficult to see that electrification transformation has become an important factor for Daimler to greatly increase its operating costs, and to neutralize the huge costs brought about by electrification transformation can only be achieved by reducing costs and increasing efficiency and mass layoffs. In fact, not only Daimler, but also two German carmakers, Audi and BMW, which are members of BBA, have laid off employees on a large scale, and the reason is largely the "pain" brought about by the electrification transformation.
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Nowadays, electrification transformation has become the "main theme" of major car companies around the world. For Daimler, as a traditional car company, it is a brand-new challenge to transition the product layout from fuel vehicles such as new energy vehicles and start research and development from scratch, so the "pain" of transformation may come more violently. At the same time, it coincides with the downward trend of the global auto market. Therefore, even Daimler is bound to "tighten its belt" and lay off employees on a large scale.
(Text/Tang Tang Money)
This article comes from car home, the author of the car manufacturer, and does not represent car home's position.